Polishing machine



April 28, 1953' w. B. KNIGHT 2,636,320

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Apfil 5, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Wfjsfer Z5. Z1

W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE April 28, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 5, 1950 W. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE April 28, 1953 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1950 20a Zd 42 IN V EN TUR.

April 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT POLISHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 5, 1950 \ITTI I INVENTOR. Weif 5 A ril 28, 1953 w. B. KNIGHT2,636,320

POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR.

We az er B Y Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPOLISHING MACHINE Webster B. Knight, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 5, 1950, Serial No. 154,034

Claims. 1 The present invention relates to a polishing machine forpolishing the heads of screws or other similar workpieces.

This invention relates to an improved polishing machine of the typeillustrated, described and claimed in my copending application, SerialNo.

55,585, filed October 20, 1948.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedpolishing machine of the above mentioned type, including an improvedhopper into which the screws to be polished are loaded, an improvedconveyor means for supporting the screws during the polishing operation,improved means for transferring the screws from the hopper to theconveyor means, and improved means for polishing the heads of the screwsas they are carried along the conveyor means, all of which co-operate toform a polishing machine which more rapidly collects the screws to bepolished, permits improved polishing of the workpieces, and greatlyincreases the production of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedpolishing machine of the above mentioned type in which the conveyormeans includes means for rotating the screws about their axes during thepolishing operation, to insure complete polishing of the entire screwhead.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hopper for apolishing machine of the above mentioned type, which hopper includes anannular axially upwardly opening slot and baffles engaging the screwsdisposed within the hopper causing these screws to fall across the slotto facilitate the collection of the screws within the slot.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmeans for handling screws ,or other similar workpieces including animproved conveyor for supporting the screws during the polishingoperation, a slide for delivering the screws to the conveyor, andimproved transfer means for transferring the screws from the slide tothe conveyor.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide improvedpolishing means for a polishing .machine of the above mentioned type,which polishing means includes polishing wheels and improved means forsupporting the polishing wheels so the wheels may be adjusted toward andaway from the conveyor means and so that the wheels may also be adjustedto vary the angle between the plane of the wheels and the path ofmovement of the screws along the conveyor. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved polishingmachine providing greatly increased production and which is veryversatile in that it may be readily adapted to handle various sizes ofworkpieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved polishingmachine of the above mentioned type which is of sturdy, durableconstruction and which is reliable and efficient in operation.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe consideration of the following specification, the appended claimsand the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of whichlike reference characters designate like parts and wherein:

Figure l is a broken elevational view of a polishing machine embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 1A is a broken enlarged sectional view of the structureillustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line lA-IA thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken longitudinal sectional view showing theleft hand portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFigure 2, taken substantially along the line 3-3 thereof;

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated inFigure 2, taken substantially along the line l-4 thereof;

Figure 5 is a broken plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2,taken in the direction of the arrow 5 therein;

Figure 6 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated inFigure 5, taken substantially along the line 6-6 thereof;

Figure '7 is a broken perspective view of the structure illustrated inFigure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5,taken substantially along the line 88 thereof;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFigure 5, taken substantially along the line 9-9 thereof;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1,taken substantially from the line l0-l 0 thereof; and,

Figure 11 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated inFigure 1, taken substantially along the line llll thereof.

The improved polishing machine of the present invention generallycomprises a fabricated main frame generally indicated at 20, a hopper 22supported on a suitable frame 24, a conveyor generally indicated at 26mounted on thefram'e 20 and adapted to support the screws and conveythem along in position for the heads to be polished, pickup and transfermeans generally indicated at 28 adapted to remove the screws from thehopper 22 and transfer them to the conveyor means 26, a plurality ofpolishing means generally indicated at 30 supported on the frame 26 andadapted to polish the heads of the screws as they are carried along theconveyor 25, and driving means for driving the conveyor 28, thepolishing means 30 and the hopper 22.

Considering the above mentioned components in greater detail, the hopper22 is formed "of metal and has a conically shaped side wall to which isdisposed on an inclined axis as best'i l'l'ustratedin Figures 1, 2 and7. At its inner and smaller diameter, the conical wall 34 carries anannular bottom ring 36 welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto.Within the opening defined by the annular ring 36, a bottom plate '33 issupported on a plurality of b-shaped brackets it. The plate 38co-operates with the annular ring 38 to define an annular slot -42.Adjacent the slot 42, the upper surfaces of the ring 36 and plate 38 areformed to define annular recesses in which are supported annular rings"45 and "4% respec- 'tively, which are secured in place by a pluralityof 'screws 48 and 59. The annular rings id and 4,6 cooperate to definean annular slot 52 aligned with the larger 'slot :32 defined by the ring'35 and plate 33. It will be appreciated that the size of the slot 52may be 'varied to correspond to the size of the screw being run 'on themachine and provide maximum collection of the screws in the slot 52 byreplacing either or bothof the annular rings 44 and 4B.

A plurality of angularly spaced 'b'aflles 54 are mounted on the innersurface "of the conical wall '34 and'secured thereto by screws 56. Thebaffles 54 are inclined relative to the straight 'line elements of theconical wall 34 so that the lower or axially inner ends of the baffles"54 trail the outer ends of the baffles during rotation of the hopper,which in the construction illustrated, is in the clockwise directionindicated "by the "arrow in Figure 4. The bafiies d terminate "at theirinner ends adjacent the bottom ring 38 "of the hopper and function tocarry screwsdisposed in the hopper 22 upwardly during rotation ofthe'hopper 22 in the direction indicated fcausing the'mto falldownwardly toward 'the "slot 52, thereby facilitating collection ofscrews in theslotSZ.

an annular collar "581s welded 'to the outer side of "the conical wall34 adjacent its "lower or inner end and has a cylindrical outer surface'60 having a 'pair of pulley grooves which receive V-belts 62 forrotating the hopper 22 about its inclined air is. The 'h'o'ppe'ris'rotatably supported on the frame "24 by a plurality of rollers 84suitably supported on the frame '24 and adapted to engage thecylindrical outer surface 6t of the collar '58, and other rollers 66also mounted on the frame 24 and engaging a bottom surface 68 of thecollar '58, which bottom surface 68 is disposed at right angles to thecylindrical surface 60. The pulley belts 62 are trained over adrivepulley supported on theframe 24 in laterally spaced relation to thehopper 22 in parallel relation thereto and drivingly connected to asuitable electric motor 12.

The pickup and transfer means 28 mentioned above includes a pair ofgenerally parallel fiat strips M which are-interconnected' at'spacedintervals therealong by L-shaped elements it and 18 clamped together bybolts 80. These connecting elements support the strips i l in parallelspaced relation to define a longitudinally extending slot 82therebetween adapted to receive the shanks of the screws, the heads ofwhich engage and are supported upon the upper edges of the strips M.These strips 14 define an inclined slide along which the screws aretransferred from the hopper 22 to the conveyor 28. At their upper endsthe strips 511 are shaped to define finger 84 adapted to ride on theupper surface of the annular rings 46 and 46 at opposite sides of theslot '52 and remove from the slot 52 the screws which have collectedtherein and are carried to the fingers M by the rotation of the hopper22. These fingers 84 function as described in greater detail in mycopending application, Serial No. 55,585, filed October 20, 1948, toefiiciently remove the screws which collect in the slot 52 and transferthem to the slot defined by the strips where they slide along the strips'i' i with their heads supported on the upper edge of the strips 14. Theupper ends of the strips '14 are supported on a suitable frameworkgenerally indicated at 86 to dispose the -fingers M in the abovedescribed relation to the slot 52. 'The' framewor k tt is suitablysupported on the hopper frame 2 as by supporting elements 8-? secured tothe hopper frame 24 '(see Figure 7').

As'clearly "illustrated in the drawings, the strips 'l fil slopedownwardly from the fingers "8'4 at their upper ends toward theconveyorfifi. To facilitate ra'pidtravel of the-screws downwardly alongthe strips 74, a pair of pneumatic vibrators 38 are secured to the frame'85. These vibrators 88 prO- duce a vibration of the strips 15,resulting in rapid movement of the screws downwardly toward the conveyor'26. At the lower end of the strips 54, the screws are transferred tothe conveyor 26, as hereinafter described.

The spacing of the strips Hi may be such'as to accommodate a Wide rangeof screw sizes "since it need only be smallenough to prevent the screwheads from falling between the strips 14 and great enough -to beslightly more'than "the shank diameter of the screws.

if necessary, of course, means maybe provided on the elements it and T8ifor clamping the strips M in various spacedrela- The above mentionedconveyor means 26 comprise 'a pair of laterally spaced conveyorbelts 90and 92. These belts at and 92 are conventional "endless 'V-sha'pedpulley belts and define generally horizontally extending loops, portionsof which extend in spaced parallel relation to define a slottherebetween adapted to receive the shanks of screws carried by theconveyor. The main portion of the conveyorfi is mounted 'on'ahorizontally disposed plate 94 supported "on the main frame 20 andextending longitudinally thereof. At the right hand end-of 'the'plate94, as viewed in Figure 1, and which is seen'on an enlarged scale inFigure -l1, a pair of'coaxial shafts 96 and 98 are mounted in spacedpairs of bearing blocks tilt and I62 respectively. Pulley wheels F04 and106 aresecured to the adjacent ends of'the shafts '96and'98respectively. The oonveyor'beltssiland 92 are trained 'over the pulleywheels 104 and 106 "respectively. At "the opposite or left hand end ofthe main "frame '20, as viewed in' Figure '1, a

pair of plates 108 and H0 are independently :mounted 10!! the main frame20 in the plane-of the plate 9'4, forzmovement toward 'and awayfrom theplate 94.

The plates I08 and H0 carry coaxial shafts I20 their adj acent'surfaces. -I-96 are shaped to receive the pulley belts-90 and 5. and I22rotatably supported thereon in pairs of bearing members I24=and I26respectively. Referring to Fig. 2, thebearing members-I24 are secured bybolts I23 to supports I welded or otherwise secured to the plate I08.Movement of the plate I08 toward and away from'the plate 94 is effectedby rotation of a handwheel I I2 through a screw I I4, which engages in athreaded boss I I6 on one of the supports I25. Movement of the plate H6toward and away from the plate 94 is similarly efiected by a handwheelII8. Pulley wheels I28 and I30 are fixed on the adjacent inner ends ofthe shafts I20 and I22. The conveyor belts 90 and 92 are trained overthe pulley wheels I28 and I30 respectively. It will be appreciated fromthe foregoing description that the tension in the conveyor belts 90 and92 may be independently adjusted by rotation of the handwheels H2 andH8.

The conveyor belts 90 and 92 are driven through conveyor drive meansgenerally indicated at I32 and comprising a motor I34 mounted in thelower right hand portion of the main frame 20, as viewed in Figure 1,the output shaft I36 of which carries a drive pulley I38 connected by abelt I40 to a large pulley I42 on an idler shaft I44. The idler shaftI44 also carries a small sprocket wheel I46 which is connected by achain I48 to a large sprocket wheel I50 on a second idler shaft I52.drive sprocket wheels I54 and I56 which drive the shafts 96 and 98respectively through chains I58 and I60 trained over sprocket wheels I62and I64 mounted respectively on the shafts 96 and 98.

It will now be appreciated that properly varying the sizes of thesprocket wheels I54 and I56 or I62 and I64, the relative speed of theconveyor belts 90 and 92 may be varied to produce any desired amountofrotation of the screws as they are carried along by the belts 90 and92. It has also been found that rotation of the screws may be obtainedwhen the sprocket sizes are the same by adjusting oneof the handwheelsH2 and H8 to produce a partial slippage of one of the conveyor belts.

To provide an effective uniform drive of the conveyor belts 90 and 92,under heavy load conditions the shaft 96, at the right hand end of theconveyor, is connected to the shaft I20 in the left hand end thereof bya double pulley belt I66 trained over pulley wheels I68 and I10 fixed onthe shafts 96 and I20 respectively, and the shaft 98 is similarlyconnected to the shaft I22 by pulley belts I12 trained over pulleywheels I14 and I16 fixed on the shafts 98 and I22. Under light loadconditions the belts 90 and 92 may transmit their own driving forcecompletely and the belts I66 and I12 may be dispensed with.

A pair of longitudinally extending backup members I86 and I88 carryoutwardly extending legs I81 and I89 welded or otherwise suitablysecured thereto and having elongated slots I9I and I93 through whichextend bolts I90 and I92 which engage in tapped holes in supportingblocks I82 and I84 spaced longitudinally of the plate 94 and welded orotherwise suitably secured thereto. It will be readily appreciated thatthis construction permits the backup members I86 and I88 to be adjustedrelative to each other to vary the spacing therebetween.

These backup members I86 and I88 extend in spaced parallel relation andhave recesses I94 and I96 respectively formed in the upper portion ofThese recesses I94 and The idler shaft I52 carries small 92 and supportthem with their adjacent-faces disposed in spaced parallel relationasbest-illustrated in Figures 6 and 8. The belts 90 and 92 are heldagainst movement upwardly out of the recesses I94 and I96 by plates I98and 200 seecured to the upper surfaces of the backup members I86 and I88by bolts 202 and 204. The upper surfaces of the backup members I86 andI88 are inclined downwardly toward their outer edges and the adjacentportions of the cover plates I98 and 200 taper to thin sharp edges 206and 208 spaced apart sufficiently to prevent interference with the headsof the screws during movement thereof along the conveyor 26. At the lefthand end of the conveyor 26, as viewed in Figure 1, and which is shownon an enlarged scale in Figure 5, supports I18 and I are provided on thebackup members I86 and I88, which carry spaced rollers 2 I 0 and 2 I 2supported for r0- tation about vertical pivot pins 2I4 and 2I6 extendingthrough the supports I18 and I80 and receiving'nuts 2 I5 and 2I1 onthreaded lower end portions thereof. These rollers 2 I 0 and 2I2 haveannular grooves 2I8 and 220 respectively, adapted to respectively engagethe conveyor belts and 92 intermediate the flywheels I28 andv I30 andthe backup members I86 and I88, and turn the belts to the abovedescribed position in which the adjacent faces thereof are disposed inthe proper spaced parallel relation which is main tained by the backupmembers I86 and I88.

To the left of the rollers 2 I 6 and 2 I 2, as viewed in Figure 5, thesupports I18 and carry supporting blocks 230 and 232 welded to the uppersurface thereof. These blocks 238 and 232 carry plates 234 and 236 whichare horizontally disposed and have finger portions 238 and 240respectively, which project between the rollers 2I0 and 2I2 and aredisposed in engagement with the upper surface of the conveyor belts 90and 92. As best illustrated in Figure 8, the thickness of these fingers238 and 240 progressively decreases from their outer edges to theiradjacent inner edges. Also, the thickness of the fingers 238 and 240progressively decreases from the left to the right, as viewed in Figure5. Brackets 242 and 244 overlie a portion of the plates 234 and 266 andthese brackets 242 and 244 and the plates 234 and 236 are secured to thesupporting blocks 238 and 232 by suitable screws 246 and 246. At theiradjacent edges, the brackets 242 and 244 have vertically disposedflanges 250 and 252 between which are received the lower ends of theslide strips 14. These slide strips 14 are secured to the brackets 242and 244 by screws 254 and 256, and, as best illustrated in Figure 9,terminate above the belts 90 and 92. thereby avoiding any interferencetherewith.

It will be appreciated that screws sliding down the slide strips 14 aretransferred from the lower end thereof to the plates 234 and 236, fromwhich they are picked up by the engagement of the conveyor belts 90 and92 with the shanks of the screws as the belts 90 and 92 converge fromthe pulley wheels I26 and I30 toward the rollers 2I 0 and 2I2. Theformation of the plates 234 and 236 with the fingers 238 and 240, asabove described, facilitates the transfer of the screws from the slidestrip 14 to the conveyor belts 90 and 92.

At the right hand end of the conveyor mechanism 26, as viewed in Figure1, and which is shown on a larger scale in Figure l1, the backup membersI86 and I88 have supports 2 60 and 262 which are integrally-formedthereon or suitably 7 secured thereto and upon which mounted rollers 284and 266 similar to the above described rollers 24-41 and 242 and whichsimilarly support the conveyor belts so and ii2 disposed with theadjacent f-aces thereof in spaced parallel relation. It will be notedthat the pulley wheels Hill and H36 are spaced apart so that in movingto these pulley wheels from the rollers 2M and Y26", the conveyor beltsQ8 and 2 diverge. Accordingly, just beyond or 'to the right, :as viewedin Figure 11, of the rollers first :and 2&6, the screws are dropped:trom :the conveyor, belts 9i] and -Bil. 1n the construction illustratedin the drawings, a slide 268, .suitelhly rmpported. on the frame .213

of the polishing machine, is disposed to receive the screws falling fromthe conveyor belts se and 92 and convey the screws to 'a suitableretentacle (not shown).

During the travel of the screws along the conveyor 28,, :the heads ofthe screws are polished shy the polishing means generally indicated at30. :Any desired .rnunber hi the above mentioned polishing means he maybe employed. In the construction illustrated in the drawings, five suchpolishing .means 3c are employed and since they are all similar, only:one will he described in detail herein. Referring .to Figures 1, and11, the polishing means 38 are supported on a top plate 2T9 mounted onthe frame 23. Each of the polishing means 3.!) includes a plate (232supported on the upper surface of the plate 2'39 :contact therewith andhaving a cylindrical boss 27M welded or otherwise suitably securedthereto :and depending therefrom. The boss 2M extends through anaperture 213 in the plate 21'! 0 and provides a pivotal connectionpermitting pivotal movement of the plate 212 relative to the plate 210.A motor $212) is mounted on the upper surface of the plate 212 andsecured thereto by a plurality of bolts 288, one of which extends Eachpolishing means also includes a pol-ish- .ing wheel 2'32 "fixed on oneend of a horizontally disposed shaft 28s journaled in a movable hear-Sing block 2% and which carries :a pulley wheel 2*88 fixed to its 'otherend. The bearing block 28 8 :is supported on the cylindrical boss 2 ofthe plate 2-12 by a pair of oppositely threaded shafts are and .7392which are carried by the @bearing block 2% and the boss 215 respectivelyand interconnected by a turnbuckle 294. The pulley wheel 2-8-8 and hencethe polishing wheel .282, both of which are secured .to the shaft .2345,isdriyen by belts .2 8S trainedrover the wheel 288 and also trainedoverapulley wheel ESBmounted ,on one end of a 3,08. The shaft -3i'lli,piv- .otally connects and .rotatahly carried by links 332 and 2M,pivotally connected to the cylin- .dr-ical boss 2H and thebearingblocl; 28.8 respec tively, as indicated at .306 and 388. .At .itsop- ;posite end, themovable shaft tilt carries a pulley wheel -3.i.0secured thereto and about which is trained a pulley belt 3.12 which isalso trained over adrivepulley it carriedcn the outputshaft 318 of themotor 273. The plate 2.18 is provided with a suitable aperture #(notshown) through which the pulley belt 3G2 extends, and which is shaped toprevent interference with the pulley lbelt 3.12 during pivotal movementof the ,plate 222 relative to the platefl ii.

The bearing block 286 and hence the polishing wheel .282 is adjustedvertically by means of the turnbuckle 294 and is held in desiredadjusted position transversely of the conveyor 25 by e 10d 31h which ishorizontally disposed and=one end \of which is pivotally connected tothe bearing block 286 by the screw =3! 8., 23-5 illustrated in Figure1A, ior movement in a horizontal :plane. The other end of the rod 3 i8is externally threaded as indicated at are and extends between a pair of.fixed angle .irons 6 22 supported "on the main frame 20. The threadedportion 328 carries a pair of .nuts 3:2 3 and too-operating washers 326which engage the angle irons .322 at opposite sides thereof and whichmay be adjusted to position the bearing block. .285 as desired. It willbe appreciated from the foregoing description that the above mentionedpivotal connection of the plate 212 to the plate 21 and the ,piyotalconnection of the rod .314? to the hearing black ,286, permit thevertical plane of the polishing wheel 282 to :be inclined relative .tothe conveyor 2.6 to any desired adjusted position.

A suitable housing 3,28 is carried by the .bearing block 286 andpartially encloses the polishing wheel 332. The polishing compound and:other foreign materials incident to the polishingoperationrmay hecarried away through a conduit 3 3i! connected to asuitable exhaust fan(-notshownl.

In general, it is believed that the operation -.of

n the above described polishing machine is apparlfrom the foregoingdescription :of its construction and accordingly, only a brief statement:of theioperation will hegiyen herein. Operation of themachine isinitiated by placing .a quantity of screws, the heads :.of whichlare tobe polished, in the hepper 22 and turning on the motors .1 2, i313 and213. As the hoppcriil rotates in the disection indicated Coy the arrowin Figure 4, the :screwsare collected in the-slat 5;! with the headssupported on the upper surfaces of the annular rings i l and 55. .Thiscollection of the .screwslin the slot 52 istacilltatedby the actionofthe baffies :54 ,as above described.

Rotation of the hopper 22 carries the screws disposed in the slot 52 tothe fingers M which slide under the heads of the screws and lift themfrom the slot .52. The screws then slide down the strips ill with the.heads supported .on the upper portion "Di the strips 143 and thismovement is iacilitaterl by the pneumatic vibrators '88 :(seeEigur-e2'). At the-lower end of thestrips 55-4,, the screws slide onto thetransfer plates ,234 and 236 ,frem which they .are carried away by theconveyor helts 9i} and 9-2 which converge below the transfer plates :23%and 236 to :a position in which theylgrip the shanks of the-screws andcarry them ,i'rom the transfer plates 2,34 and 236 and longitudinallyalong between the backup members 486 and I88 with their heads supportedon the upper surfaces of the conveyor belts 9i: and 92. During .thismovement along the conveyor belts, the-screws are carried under thepolishing-wheels 282 dri-venrby thermotorZlB. These wheels are adjustedvertically relative to the screws icy the tumhuckles 29,4 and areadjusted so that the polishing wheels are disposed at 'the desired anglerelative to the path of movement cf the screws by adjusting the positionof the plates 2 1d :onthe top plate After passin the last, or right handonerofzthe polishing wheels 2282, as wiewed in Figure l, "the screws aredropped from the conveyor belts :90

and s2 as they -diverge from rthe rollers '25! and 618 towardthepulleywheels 1M and M36 carried --on the shafts 1% and 38 at theright .hand end of the machine. The finished screws dropped from thebelts 90 and 92 are caught in the slide 268 and slide downwardly into asuitable receptacle (not shown). It will be appreciated that the machinemay be adjusted as above indicated to accommodate screws of varyingsizes and that the polishing wheels 282 may be turned as desired toinsure polishing all portions of the screw heads.

While only one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that numerous modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A polishing machine for use in finishing the heads of screws andother like workpieces, said machine comprising a hopper mounted forrotation about an axis inciined to the vertical and having an axiallyupwardly presentingcircular slot communicating with the interior thereofand adapted to collect said screws and a plurality of bafiles disposedoutwardly of said slot and adapted upon rotation of the hopper with aquantity of screws therein, to carry a number of said screws from thelower portion of said hopper upwardly and cause them to fall toward saidslot; a supporting frame; conveyor means mounted on said frame disp'osedin spaced relation to said hopper and including a pair of con tinuousbelts having portions which extend in parallel relation and haveadjacent surfaces disposed in spaced parallel relation adapted to engagethe shanks of the screws, said conveyor means including a pair ofrollers individual to said belts mounted at corresponding'ends of saidparallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at theadjacent sides of said rollers with said surfaces in said spacedparallel relation; a pickup and transfer means for removing said screwsfrom said hopper and delivering them to said conveyor means andincluding a slide having fingersdisposed in said hopper for removingscrews from said slot, said slide extending to said conveyor means andbeingprovided with a pair of transfer plates extending between saidrollers for transferring said screws from said slide to said belts;polishing means including a polishing wheel disposed above said parallelportions of said belts for polishing the heads of said screws duringtheir movement along said conveyor means and means mounting saidpolishing means on said frame for adjustment to vary the angle betweenthe plane of said polishing wheel and said parallel portions of saidbelt; and means connected to said conveyor means for driving each ofsaid belts at a predetermined desired speed independent of the speed ofthe other of said belts.

2. A polishing machine for use in finishing the heads of screws andother like workpieces, said machine comprising a hopper mounted forrotation about an axis inclined to the vertical and having an axiallyupwardly presenting circular slot communicating with the interiorthereof and adapted to collect said screws and a plurality of battlesdisposed outwardly of said slot and adapted upon rotation of the hopperwith a quantity of screws therein, to carry a number of said screws fromthe lower portion of said hopper upwardly and cause them to falltowardsaid slot; a supporting frame; conveyor means mounted on saidframe disposed in spaced relation to said hopper and including a pair ofcon-- tinuous belts having portions which extend in parallel relationand have adjacent surfaces disposed in spaced parallel relation adaptedto engage the shanks of the screws, said conveyor means including a pairof rollers individual to said belts mounted at corresponding ends ofsaid parallel portions of said belts and supporting said belts at theadjacent side of said rollers with said surfaces in said spaced parallelrelation; pick up and transfer means for removing said screws from saidhopper and delivering them to said conveyor means and including a slidehaving fingers disposed in said hopper for removing said screws fromsaid slot, said slide extending to said conveyor means and beingprovided with a pair of transfer plates extending between said rollersfor transferring said screws from said slide to said belts; polishingmeans including a polishing wheel disposed above said parallel portionsof said belts for polishing said screws during their movement along saidconveyor means, and means operatively connected to said hopper, saidpolishing means, and said belts for driving said hopper, said polishingmeans and said belts.

3. A hopper for screws and other similarly. headed workpieces, saidhopper comprising conical side wall, a bottom disposed in a planeperpendicular to the axis of said conical side wall and including anannular ring extending radially, inwardly from said conical side wall atthe smaller end thereof toward the axis of said conical side wall and acircular plate concentric with said annular ring and disposed within thecentral opening defined by said annular ring, said plate having itsradially outer edge spaced radially inwardly of the radially inner edgeof said ring and co-operating therewith to define an annular slottherebetween communicating with the interior of said hopper and adaptedto collect said workpieces therein, means external of said hoppersupporting said circular plate disposed as above described, a pluralityof baiiles mounted on and spaced about the inner side of said conicalside wall, said baffles projecting inwardly from and extending generallyaxially along said side wall.

4. A hopper as defined in claim 3, wherein said baflies terminate at oneend adjacent said bot tom.

5. A hopper as defined'in claim 3, wherein eachof said bafiles isdisposed at an angle relative to the straight line elements of saidconical side wall such that upon rotation of the hoppers in onedirection, the outer end of each baffle leads the inner with the resultthat screws engaged bythe'bafllesare urged inwardly toward said bot--tom.

6. A hopper as defined in claim 3, wherein said ring and said platecarry co-operating annular elements removably secured thereto definingan annular slot therebetween registering with said first named slot,said annular elements being readily replaceable for varying the size ofsaid last named slot.

7. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpiecescomprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, meanssupporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation andwith adjacent surfaces of said portions'disposed in spaced parallelrelation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said lastnamed means including a pair of roll ers individual to said belts.disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said beltsand supporting said beltsv at the adjacent If sides of said when; withsaid adjacent suriaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation,said last named means also including a pair of guides spaced from saidrollers and spaced from each other adistance greater than the spacingbetween said rollers so that between said guides and said rollers saidbelts converge toward said rollers, and means for delivering said screwsto said conveyor means and including a slide inclined relative to anddownwardly toward said parallel portions of said belts and having a slotadapted to receive the shanks of said screws, said slide being adaptedto support said screws with the headed end above said slot, and a pairof transier plates directly connected to said slide and extendingbetween said rollers for transferring said screws from said slide tosaid belts;

8 Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpieces,comprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, meanssupporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation andwith adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallelrelation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws,

said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to saidbelts disposed at corre sponding ends of said parallel portions of saidbelts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollerswith said adjacent. surfaces oi said belts in said spaced parallelrelation, said 1 belts converging toward said rollers; a hoppercomprising a conical side wall, a bottom disposed in a planeperpendicular to the axis of said conical side wall and including anannular ring extending inwardly from said conical side wall at thesmaller end thereof and, a circular plate concentric with said annularring and co-operating therewith to define an annular slot therebetween,meazns external of said hopper supporting said circular plate disposedas above described, a plurality oi baiiles mounted on and spaced aboutthe inner side of said conical side wall, said baiiles projectinginwardly from and extending generally axially along said side wall; andmeans for automatically feeding said screws from said hopper to saidconveyor means, said last named means including a slide extending. from.said hopper to said conveyor means and provided with finger means at oneend thereof mounted within said hopper adjacent said slot and adapted totransfer said workpieces from said slot to said slide and apair 01transfer plates connected to said slide and projecting between saidrollers above said belts for transferring said: screws from said slideto said belts; v

9'. Means for handling screws and. other similarly headed workpiecescomprising a frame; conveyor means mounted on said frame and including apair of continuous belts, and means supporting said belts with portionsextending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of saidportions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage theshanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollersindividual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of saidparal-lelportions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sidesof said rollers with said adjacent surfacesof said belts. in. saidspaced parallel relation, said last named means also including a pair ofguides spaced from said rollers and spaced from each other a distancegreater than the spacing between said rollers so that between saidguides and said roll-- one said belts converge toward said rollers; aslide mounted on said frame adapted to iced screws to said conveyormeans; said slide defining a slot of uniform width inclined relative toand downwardly toward said parallel portions of said belts a pair oftransfer plates supported on said. frame and disposed generallyhorizontally and overlying the upper surfaces of said belts, said platesdefining a slot therebetween continuous with said slot defined by saidslide and being adapted to receive screws from said slide and supportthem with their heads engaging the adjacent upper surfaces of saidplates and their shanks extending downwardly through said slot, saidplates being disposed adjacent said rollers so that as said beltsconverge toward said rollers they are adapted to engage the shanks ofscrews on said transfer plates and carry them along with the belts.

10. Means: for adjustably supporting a wheel for polishing the heads ofscrews and other like workpieces which. are moved horizontally along aconveyor, said means comprising a frame, a supporting member molmted onsaid frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, a bearing blockdisposed directly below said member, a shaft j'ournaled in said bearingblock and. adapted to carry said wheel, means supporting said bearingblock on. said supporting member in fixed position: relative thereto andadjustable for moving said bearing block vertically to. selectively movesaid wheel toward and away from said conveyor, afirst link having oneend pivotally connected to said bearing block, a second link having oneend pivotally connected to said supporting member, a shaft pivotal-11yconnecting the other ends oi said links and carrying first and seconddrive pulleys fixed. thereto, a third pulley fixed to said first namedshalt, a motor mounted on said supporting member having an output shaftand a fourth pulley fixed thereto, an endless belt trained over said.first and. third, pulleys and a second endless belt trained over saidsecond and fourth pulleys, and means adjustably securing said supportingmember to said frame whereby said first named shaft may be secured in adesired adjusted horizontal position relative to said conveyor.

ll. Means for handling screws as defined in claim 7 and including meansoperatively connected to: said belts for driving said belts with adesired diifierential between the speeds of said belts.

12. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpiecescomprising conveyor means including apair of continuous belts, meanssupporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation andwith adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallelrelation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said lastnamed means including a pair of rollers individual to said beltsdisposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said beltsand supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers withsaid adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation,said belts converging toward said rollers, and means for delivering saidscrews to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined to thehorizontal and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of saidscrews and said slide being adapted to support said screws with theheaded end above said slot, and a pair of transfer plates connected tosaid slide and extending between said rollers for transferring saidscrews from said slide to said belts, said transfer plates overlyingsaid belts and defining a horizontally extending slot therebetweenforming a continuation of the slot of said slide and a portion of whichextends between said rollers and is aligned with the space adjacent saidsurfaces of said belts.

13. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpiecescomprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, meanssupporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation andwith adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallelrelation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws, said lastnamed means including a pair of rollers individual to said beltsdisposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of said beltsand supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollers withsaid adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spaced parallel relation,said belts converging toward said rollers, and means for delivering saidscrews to said conveyor means and including a slide inclined to thehorizontal and having a slot adapted to receive the shanks of saidscrews and said slide being adapted to support said screws with theheaded end above said slot, and a pair of transfer plates connected tosaid slide and extending between said rollers for transferring saidscrews from said slide to said belts, said slide terminating above saidbelts to prevent interference of said slide with said belts.

14. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpiecescomprising conveyor means including a pair of continuous belts, meanssupporting said belts with portions extending in parallel relation andwith adjacent surfaces of said portions disposed in spaced parallelrelation and adapted to engage the shanks of said screws,

said last named means including a pair of rollers individual to saidbelts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallel portions of saidbelts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sides of said rollerswith said adjacent surf-aces of said belts in said spaced parallelrelation, said belts converging toward said rollers, and means fordelivering said screws to said conveyor means and including a slideinclined to the horizontal and having a slot adapted to receive theshanks of said screws and said slide being adapted to support saidscrews with the headed end above said slot, and a pair of transferplates connected tosaid slide and extending between said rollers fortransferring said screws from said slide to said belts, said belts beingV-belts and said rollers having their outer surfaces of a configurationadapted to fit the belts and hold them with said adjacent surfacesdisposed in said spaced parallel relation.

15. Means for handling screws and other similarly headed workpiecescomprising a frame; conveyor means mounted in said frame and including apair of continuous belts, and means supporting said belts with portionsextending in parallel relation and with adjacent surfaces of saidportions disposed in spaced parallel relation and adapted to engage theshanks of said screws, said last named means including a pair of rollersindividual to said belts disposed at corresponding ends of said parallelportions of said belts and supporting said belts at the adjacent sidesof said rollers with said adjacent surfaces of said belts in said spacedparallel relation, said belts converging toward said rollers; a slidemounted on said frame adapted to feed screws to said conveyor means; apair of transfer plates supported on said frame and disposed generallyhorizontally and overlying the upper surfaces of said belts, said platesdefining a slot therebetween and being adapted toreceive screws fromsaid slide and support them with their heads engaging the adjacent uppersurfaces of said plates and their shanks extending downwardly throughsaid slot, said plates being disposed adjacent said rollers so that assaid belts converge toward said rollers they are adapted to engage theshanks of screws on said transfer plates and carry them along with thebelts, the thickness of said plates progressively decreasing in thedirection of movement of said belt so that screws carried from saidplates by said belts will be disposed with their heads substantially inengagement with the upper surfaces of said belts.

WEBSTER B. KNIGHT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 173,634 Hoppin Feb. 15, 1876 188,569 Beers Mar. 20, 1877326,153 Richards Sept. 15, 1885 1,306,596 Duke June 1'0, 1919 1,888,480Storm Nov. 22, 1932 2,203,287 Smith June 4, 1940 2,252,498 Flaws Aug.12, 1941 2,263,897 Makenny Nov. 25, 1941 2,356,472 Rothaug Aug. 22, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 447,879 Germany Aug. 1, 1927 578,309Germany June 14, 1933

